Spotted Wing Drosophila Alert: 10/14/2022
David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist; James Dill, Pest Management Specialist, Phil Fanning, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Entomology, Christina Howard, New Farmers Program Manager
This will be the last planned issue of the Spotted Wing Drosophila Alert for the 2022 season. We like to thank all of the farms that volunteered to be SWD trapping sites, and our scouts, Karla Mendoza Yanes and Brooke Martin for collecting trap catches every week.
Spotted wing drosophila fly counts remain very low for this time in the season at all sites this week. While the reason for this is unclear, it may result in a low overwintering population and thus a smaller population to begin next year’s season. Populations have not been this low at this point in the season since we started statewide trapping in 2012. While most berry farms have finished for the season, fly counts are still high enough to require protection of any berries remaining in the field that you want to harvest.
A 5-7-day spray schedule is recommended on all soft-fruited crops, including fall raspberries, blackberries, and day neutral strawberries, where populations exceed the threshold of more than six flies caught in a week.
For more information on identifying spotted wing drosophila (SWD) and updates on populations around the state, visit our SWD blog at: Spotted Wing Drosophila Archives – Cooperative Extension at Highmoor Farm (umaine.edu).
Other IPM Web Pages
Michigan State University: Michigan State University Extension – Spotted Wing Drosophila Information
Penn State University: Penn State University Extension’s Spotted Wing Drosophila Overview
David T. Handley
Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist
Highmoor Farm, P.O. Box 179, Monmouth, ME 04259 207.933.2100
Pest Management Unit, 17 Godfrey Dr., Orono, ME 04473 1.800.287.0279
Where brand names or company names are used it is for the reader’s information. No endorsement is implied nor is any discrimination intended against other products with similar ingredients. Always consult product labels for rates, application instructions and safety precautions. Users of these products assume all associated risks.
The University of Maine is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.
| Town | SWD weekly trap catch 9/23/22 | SWD weekly trap catch 9/30/22 | SWD weekly trap catch 10/6/22 | SWD weekly trap catch 10/14/22 |
| Wells | 214 | 44 | 14 | 63 |
| Limerick | 13 | 7 | 3 | 11 |
| New Gloucester | 227 | 29 | 53 | 53 |
| Bowdoinham | 292 | 74 | 57 | 81 |
| Mechanic Falls | 1,208 | 108 | 62 | 6 |
| Monmouth* | 1,320 | 790 | 614 | 465 |
| Wayne | 721 | 77 | 39 | 34 |
Weekly spotted wing drosophila trap captures.
*Unsprayed plot